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2026 John Cotton Dana Awards Celebrate 80 Years of Recognizing Excellence in Library Marketing and Communications

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~ Award-winning campaigns reflect innovation, impact and the continued evolution of library marketing ~

IPSWICH, Mass., June 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 John Cotton Dana (JCD) Award recipients have been selected, celebrating library marketing and communications through strategic and creative campaigns. Administered by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Core Division in partnership with EBSCO Information Services, the awards provide up to eight $10,000 grants funded by the H.W. Wilson Foundation. These grants recognize outstanding public relations efforts that elevate the visibility and impact of library services.

The 2026 JCD Award winners are:

Door County Bookmobile, Egg Harbor, WI
Here Comes the Bookmobile! Again!
A beloved 1950s bookmobile found new life as the centerpiece of a literacy and outreach initiative serving communities across rural Door County, Wisconsin. Through volunteer leadership and community partnerships, the program distributed more than 6,500 free books and expanded access to library services throughout the region.

Geneva Public Library, Geneva, IL
Fund the Library: Library Access for All
Through storytelling, community partnerships, and a successful donor campaign, “Fund the Journey: Library Access for All” raised $250,000 for a dedicated outreach vehicle. The initiative increased awareness of outreach services and strengthened support for expanding library access to seniors, students, and individuals with disabilities.

Gwinnett County Public Library, Lawrenceville, GA
Social Media Star Keith
What began as a creative social media experiment became a viral success when IT Manager Keith Davis emerged as the star of the library’s TikTok campaign. Created entirely in-house, “Social Media Star Keith” increased followers by more than 446%, earned local media attention, and showcased the impact of authentic, staff-driven storytelling.

Hawai’i State Public Library System, Honolulu, HI
New Look Invites Residents to Reconnect with Hawai’i’s Public Libraries
A statewide rebranding campaign helped residents reconnect with 51 public libraries across six islands through a new identity rooted in local culture, community values, and the spirit of aloha. Guided by extensive public and staff input, the effort increased program participation, digital engagement, and new library users while reinforcing libraries as welcoming spaces for learning and connection.

Kitsap Public Library, Bremerton, WA
Again & Again, Kitsap Shows Up
An 80th anniversary celebration became a yearlong community engagement campaign featuring collectible library cards, interactive experiences, and countywide activities. “Again & Again, Kitsap Shows Up” attracted new donors, increased public participation, and helped build momentum for a library levy that passed with 62% voter support.

Naperville Public Library, Naperville, IL
The Inside Scoop on Library Card Sign-Up Month
Using an ice cream-themed celebration of Library Card Sign-up Month, Naperville Public Library created a fun and engaging campaign for children and families. The effort increased juvenile library card registrations by 67% and welcomed 319 new young cardholders while promoting the lifelong value of library use.

San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, CA
An Exhibition for the People: Skateboarding San Francisco: Concrete, Community, Continuity
By embracing the city’s influential skateboarding culture, Skateboarding San Francisco: Concrete, Community, Continuity attracted new audiences to the library through bold design, community partnerships, and targeted marketing. The exhibition welcomed more than 10,000 visitors, generated extensive media coverage, and expanded public perceptions of the library as a vibrant cultural destination.

University of California Santa Barbara Library, Santa Barbara, CA
UCSB Reads 2025
Centered on Ross Gay’s The Book of Delights, the first poetry collection selected in the program’s history, UCSB Reads 2025 brought campus and community members together through a shared reading experience. Creative programming, partnerships, and public events expanded participation and fostered a stronger sense of connection through literature.

The 2026 JCD winners will be recognized at the 2026 American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition as part of the 80th anniversary celebration of the John Cotton Dana Award.

2026 Selection Committee
This year’s judging panel included: Martha Anderson, Director of Organizational Development and Head of Digital Services Department, University of Arkansas; Sara Neal, Marketing and Communications Manager, Salt Lake County Library; Kelly Sitzman, Director of Communications and Employee Development, Pioneer Library System; and Judging Chair Terri Carroll, Director of Communications, Design, and Analytics, Toledo Lucas County Public Library.

About the John Cotton Dana Award
The John Cotton Dana Award was inaugurated by The H.W. Wilson Company at the 1946 annual conference of the American Library Association. It was named after John Cotton Dana (1856-1929), a librarian called the father of the modern library. The Awards are funded by the H.W. Wilson Foundation.

About the H.W. Wilson Foundation
The Foundation was established by Halsey W. Wilson in 1952 to support the needs of company employees and retirees. Since 1957, The H.W. Wilson Foundation has focused on providing financial assistance to causes having the greatest impact on improving the spirit, mind and body of the greatest number of people through aid, support and cooperation with charitable, benevolent, educational and religious institutions. Major donors to the Foundation included Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Wilson, and the H.W. Wilson Company.

About Core: Leadership, Infrastructure Futures
Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures is the national association that advances the profession of librarians and information providers in central roles of leadership and management, collections and technical services, preservation and technology. Our mission is to cultivate and amplify the collective expertise of library workers in core functions through community building, advocacy, and learning. Core is a division of the American Library Association. Follow us on our BlogInstagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is a leading provider of online research content and search technologies via the world-renowned EBSCOhost® research service, serving universities & colleges; K12 schools & public libraries; healthcare and medical institutions; corporations; and government agencies. Providing research, discovery, acquisition management & subscription services, and clinical decision support, EBSCO provides institutions with access to content and technology to serve the information and workflow needs of their users and organizations. For more information, visit the EBSCO website. Visit our blog at EBSCOpost or follow us on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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SOURCE EBSCO Information Services

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CGTN AMERICA & CCTV UN: Peng Liyuan chats over tea, visits exhibition with wife of Egyptian president

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Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, chatted over tea and visited a small handicrafts exhibition with Entissar El-Sisi, wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — (This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, chatted over tea and visited a small handicrafts exhibition with Entissar El-Sisi, wife of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, on Wednesday.

Peng had a cordial exchange with Entissar on China-Egypt friendship and people-to-people exchanges.

Egypt has a long history and a profound cultural heritage, Peng said, noting that the exquisite exhibits fully showcased the wisdom and unique aesthetic sensibilities of the Egyptian people.

China and Egypt share many cultural similarities, Peng said, expressing hope that artists from the two countries would strengthen exchanges and cooperation to allow traditional crafts to continue to shine with renewed vitality through inheritance and mutual learning.

Click here for more about Peng Liyuan chats over tea, visits exhibition with wife of Egyptian president

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-09-02/Peng-chats-over-tea-visits-exhibition-with-wife-of-Egyptian-president-1Q7eqvF7hsY/p.html

Media Contact

Yao, CGTN America, 1 2023931850, distribution@cgtnamerica.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cgtn-america–cctv-un-peng-liyuan-chats-over-tea-visits-exhibition-with-wife-of-egyptian-president-302869419.html

SOURCE CGTN America

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Mid Island Y JCC Announces Historic Naming Gift from Dr. Harvey Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation; Agency to Become Manes JCC

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PLAINVIEW, N.Y., Sept. 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Mid Island Y JCC, Long Island’s leading Jewish community center announced last night that it received a transformative naming gift from longtime member Dr. Harvey Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation. In recognition of the gift, the agency will officially be renamed Manes JCC.

The announcement was made Wednesday evening during a community-wide celebration at the agency’s Plainview location, drawing members, neighbors, and supporters from across Long Island. The event featured remarks from Mid Island Y JCC CEO Rick Lewis, board leadership, and Dr. Manes, along with the unveiling of the agency’s new name.

“Philanthropy is not an add-on to what we do at Mid Island Y JCC; it is the reason our programs, spaces, and services exist today,” said Rick Lewis, CEO of the agency soon to be known as Manes JCC. “We have grown and flourished for 70 years because people who believe in this community have chosen to invest in it. This gift from Dr. Harvey Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation is the newest, and one of the most significant chapters in that story.”

Dr. Manes is an orthopedic surgeon, attorney, author, and philanthropist. A longtime member of Mid Island Y JCC, his relationship with the agency began in an exercise class and deepened over time. He previously supported the naming of the agency’s Arts and Culture Center, and that growing commitment has now culminated in this landmark gift from Dr. Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation, which he oversees with his children.

“This organization has given so much to this community for so long, and I have felt that impact firsthand,” said Dr. Manes. “The Manes Peace Prize Foundation and I are proud to be part of the next chapter of this agency, and we hope this gift will help it do even more for the people for our community and those who need it most.”

The gift will fund a combination of immediate capital improvements and longer-term investments in the agency’s facilities and programs. Three projects are already underway: resealing and restriping the parking lot ahead of members’ return in September, installing a new floor in the group fitness studio, and replacing fitness center equipment that has been in place since the facility’s 2012 renovation.

“These three projects are just the beginning,” said Vicki Diamond, President of the Manes JCC Board of Directors. “In the coming weeks and months, our board and leadership will determine how the remainder of this extraordinary gift will be put to work, and we cannot wait to share those plans with our community as they take shape.”

Agency leaders regard the gift as transformative while recognizing the ongoing generosity that has always sustained the organization.

“We are beyond grateful to Dr. Harvey Manes and the Manes Peace Prize Foundation,” Diamond added. “This gift is not a finish line. It is fuel for a community that has always shown up for itself and one that we are counting on to continue showing up.”

The name change represents an investment in the organization’s future, not a change to its mission. Manes JCC will continue to operate as a Jewish Community Center serving individuals and families of every age, background, and faith. Its programs and services span early childhood education and daycare, camp, school-age enrichment, fitness and aquatics, adult and senior services, memory care, special needs programming, and community-wide events.

About Manes JCC

Formerly known as Mid Island Y JCC, Manes JCC is a nonprofit Jewish Community Center whose programs, services, partnerships, and community impact reach individuals and families throughout Long Island. For 70 years, the agency has provided programs and services spanning early childhood education, camp, school-age enrichment, fitness and aquatics, adult and senior services, memory care, special needs programming, and community-wide events. Manes JCC welcomes members and neighbors of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths.

For more information, visit miyjcc.org.

Wendy Klonsky wklonsky@miyjcc.org or (516) 822-3535, x338

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SOURCE Mid Island Y JCC

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New asset management platform to help communities build smarter receives federal investment

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PrairiesCan supports Regina company advancing AI-enabled asset management technology

REGINA, SK, Sept. 3, 2026 /CNW/ — At each defining moment in its history, Saskatchewan has responded by building. In the province’s early decades, communities built the roads, schools, hospitals and communications networks needed to connect people across vast distances and lay the foundations of a growing province.

As Saskatchewan entered the post-war era, it built again. Highways expanded, rural communities gained access to electricity and telephone service, and new industries took root in energy, mining and manufacturing.

Today, Saskatchewan and Canada face another defining economic moment. As we respond to new and unjustified U.S. tariffs, governments across the country are focused on what they can control: building strength at home. That means building the homes, infrastructure and major projects Canada needs, while supporting Canadian companies developing technologies that help communities build smarter, plan better and make more informed investments.

Today, the Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), announced $980,000 in repayable funding for Asset Strategy Inc., operating as ASI Engineering, to further develop its proprietary asset management platform, ASI Software.

Municipalities and other organizations rely on roads, buildings, water systems and other public assets to deliver services, attract investment, and support long-term economic growth, particularly as communities work to strengthen resilience and position themselves for future opportunities. Maintaining clear, up-to-date information about these assets is essential for planning maintenance, anticipating future needs and ensuring limited resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.

ASI Software will bring this information together through a cloud-based registry and client dashboard. The platform will provide visual summaries of asset conditions, track budgets over time and identify projected funding gaps and infrastructure deficits. AI-enabled reporting tools will support continuous monitoring and help organizations make better-informed decisions about what to maintain, upgrade, or build next.

By supporting Saskatchewan technology that helps communities plan and build with greater confidence, the Government of Canada is helping ASI Engineering bring its platform to market, pursue new opportunities at home and abroad, and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.

Quotes

“At defining moments in its history, Saskatchewan has responded by building. Today, as Canada navigates a changing global economy, we are building strength at home by supporting Canadian businesses developing the technologies we need to build smarter. ASI Engineering’s new platform will help communities make more informed investments, strengthen their infrastructure and get better value from the assets people rely on every day.”
–The Honourable Eleanor Olszewski, Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)

“When we support Saskatchewan businesses like ASI Engineering, we’re investing in world-class innovation developed right here at home. This nearly $1 million in federal support from PrairiesCan will help the company bring new technology to market so that they give clients better information to manage their infrastructure, control costs, and plan for the future.”
–The Honourable Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development

“This support will help speed up ASI Software’s development, bring it to market sooner, and help organizations better manage assets, reduce risk, prioritize investments, and create a positive impact on society faster.”
–Darren Wiebe, Founder & CEO, ASI Engineering

Quick facts

ASI Engineering expects to expand their market reach to the United States and Europe within the next two years.Support for ASI Engineering is provided under the Business Scale-up and Productivity Program (BSP), which offers interest-free, repayable funding for high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up, and commercialize technology.ASI Engineering plans to add climate adaptation and risk-modelling tools to help organizations prepare for wildfires, flooding and other infrastructure threats.Future updates to ASI Software will integrate AI, 3D building management and digital twins (live virtual models of physical objects, systems or processes) to strengthen condition assessments, identify risks and support better infrastructure decisions.

Associated links

Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) in the Prairie provincesAsset Strategy Inc. (ASI Engineering)

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Follow PrairiesCan on FacebookInstagram and LinkedIn

Toll-free number: 1-888-338-9378
TTY (telecommunications device for the hearing impaired): 1-877-303-3388

SOURCE Prairies Economic Development Canada

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